The visit of President Oligui Nguema to France marked a significant turning point in the Gabonese-French relationship, after 42 years without such a high-level official visit. The two countries have decided to establish a new partnership, breaking away from past practices and aiming for an equal-to-equal relationship.

The economic dimension of this new partnership is evident in President Nguema’s determination to break with the logic of exploiting Gabon’s resources by foreign companies without benefiting the country. He advocates for local transformation of these companies, ensuring that the Gabonese nation has control over its own resources. This ambition was discussed during his visit, particularly regarding the manganese industry.

During his stay in Paris, President Nguema stressed that the partnership between France and Gabon is now more transparent and equitable than ever before. The outcome of these discussions led to significant gains for the country, including a major transformation project at the Eramet facility, which aims to increase production capacity by 2031.

The visit also saw the signing of an agreement with Proparco to modernize the Transgabonais operation, a key aspect of Gabon’s efforts to redefine its partnership with France. This move is part of a broader strategy to rebalance cooperation and break away from past practices.

President Nguema also expressed his country’s desire to diversify its partnerships beyond France, including with countries like China, Turkey, and India. While France remains a key partner, Gabon seeks to open itself up to new opportunities.